- Dr. Mohammad T. Al Rasheed, a columnist for the Saudi
government English daily The Saudi Gazette, responded to President Bush's
demand that Arab leaders cease calling suicide bombers "martyrs."
In an article titled "God Bless Our Martyrs," Dr. Al-Rasheed
criticized the U.S. The following are excerpts from the column:
-
- "Yes, those being mowed down in Palestine are MARTYRES
[sic] to their cause, their honor, their dignity, their land, and their
religion - the morons in Washington notwithstanding. We have had enough
of double-dealing, double standards, double talk, and double acts on a
lousy stage. The 'dudn't' President has overstepped his mark: he has given
the green light for a massacre to commence conducted by the most brutal
criminal this side of Caligula."
-
- "A few weeks ago a couple in San Francisco were
found guilty on behalf of their two dogs that mauled a neighbor to death.
The same law is applicable to Bush and Sharon: the dog and its keeper.
We do not need a Cicero to pontificate before a court for us to get a verdict.
The issue is clear. We also cannot enter into high legal parlance or into
philosophical argumentations. The dog and its keeper are not versed in
this sort of dialogue. Nevertheless, let us try and simplify it enough
for the keeper to understand why the world is not against dogs per se,
but against his dog in particular..."
-
- "The Americans used to say that they do not have
the power to curb or influence Israeli decisions, but every time they tell
the Israelis to do something, the Israelis do it. How are we to square
this circle? The world watches in horror, and we have Europeans now bellowing
at America to do the basic decent things in life. The Europeans are not
exactly Arabophiles, but they retain a semblance of their humanity yet..."
-
- "...Fourteen hundred years ago, the second Khalif,
Omar, entered Jerusalem and was invited by its archbishop to pray in [the]
Nativity Church. He refused; not because he did not think it suitable,
but because, as he put it, 'Muslims will want to build a mosque on the
spot.' Sure enough, he prayed on an adjoining piece of land, where we now
have Masjid Omar, the Mosque of Omar. That too was bombed and desecrated
by the modern Hun."
-
- "The progress of humanity seems far from inching
its way to better human nature. Or is it simpler: we lack education about
others, and an ingrained sense of respect for others and, more tragically,
ourselves."
-
- "A Billion of Muslims Are Being Turned into Raging
Volcanoes"
-
- "A billion of Muslims are being turned into raging
volcanoes by this disrespect: Docile bookworms, redundant bureaucrats,
pregnant women usually preoccupied with their pains, doctors busy cutting
up humanity for repair work, and countless others usually preoccupied with
their lives, are now seething. Is this sanity on the part of policy-makers
ruling the world? Caligula's madness never really reached outside Rome
itself for obvious reasons. Now CNN can deliver its warped audio-visual
accounts to the world."
-
- "Better still, others have learned the trick of
the trade. Ironically enough, Caligula wandered too far in Palestine where
angels feared to tread before him. He wanted the Jews to worship him in
their temple..., the rest is history as they say. Can the 'dudn't' man
be brought to read some of this history? Condowhatever Rice should bring
some of those wonderful books published by Stanford for him to read. On
a personal note, I am ashamed now to say that I went to the same university."
-
- "Let us say it once and for all: We have nothing
against Jews. This is a fact. We have nothing against any people for what
they believe or how they believe. Those of us who do are interpreting Muslim
scriptures as American fundamentalists are interpreting Christian scriptures.
It is hard to believe the Pope, of the Vatican as an institution, endorses
Jerry Falwell - just to give one example. But, like the French during Nazi
occupation, the Russians against the French occupation, the Americans against
the British occupation, we take issue with the occupier. Hence our sense
of martyrdom."
-
- President Bush Should Read Arab History
-
- "We also would wonder these days about our own sense
of comprehension when we hear Bush telling the world that Arafat 'betrayed
his people.' Who are you to issue such a judgment Mr. President? Who gave
you the right to speak for the Palestinians, or any other people who are
not Americans? They elected him, they support him, and now they are dying
for him. That, I should think, is more than most of your people are willing
to do for you. Your father, in his heyday, asked your nation to read his
lips. Since reading is a family tradition with you, could we ask you to
simply read our history before trying to rule over us?"
-
- "You [The U.S.] Will Vanish, But We Will Remain"
-
- "In case you do not have the time or stamina, let
me tell you this: we are as old as the stone that Jesus walked on, pure
as the water Muhammad was given to wash for prayer from, and severe as
the laws Moses brought down from the Mount. You will vanish, but we will
remain - the world will advance to oblivion, but our date palms and our
olive trees will survive your nuclear bombs. And, somehow, something of
us will remain. You have it written, not in Holy Scripture, but on the
green back you so adore, especially on Christmas Eve: In God We Trust."(1)
-
- Endnote:
-
- (1) The Saudi Gazette, April 8, 2002.
-
- From K.A. Bell
kbell58@yahoo.com
5-15-2
-
-
- Dear Dr. Al Rasheed,
-
- I am writing to respond to this op-ed piece that is appearing
on the internet, attributed to you and the Saudi Gazette. It grieves me
to read inflammatory and slanderous opinions of Americans. This attitude
from top Arab officials is adding more fuel to the raging inferno in your
young people.
-
- Let me remind you of the American dream and ideals. Since
you studied in our universities, this should just be a refresher. Our society
was founded on the belief that freedom is a gift from God. We try to fashion
our government to allow Americans self-determination and free will. These
ideals are bestowed by the Creator. All the oil, nukes, and bio-warfare
will not erase these ideals from the planet as these ideals are gifts from
God for the people of God.
-
- Let me also remind you that there are many people in
America ready to die for our way of live. Our young people are not running
in the streets, burning, shooting, and screaming. You will not see symbols
of your country defaced or threatening signs in Arabic on CNN or Al Jazerra
for that matter. We do have a quiet resolve to stand for our country and
our freedom. While your young people are rioting in the streets, our young
people are playing Nintendo, fishing, shooting hoops, riding horses, skating,
etc, etc, etc. Most live the good life. Most live life to it's fullest
from day one. Most are taught hard work brings rewards and sacrifice is
necessary for success. For these reasons, they will fight to keep the freedom
alive for the next generation. They will cross the line in the sand to
protect their Nintendos, basketball courts, 4 wheel drives, and their freedom,
the gift from God.
-
- The young people in the Arab world will remain inflamed
as long as they live in countries ruled by elitists who fly their race
horses over to run the Kentucky Derby, fly their wives over to shop, and
fly their children over to school. These luxuries are not afforded the
average citizen. There is no much hope of achieving these luxuries for
themselves or their children. It doesn't take a great mind to see the bitter
resentment.
-
- Since you challenged our knowledge of history, let me
remind you of another fact. The most martyred religion in history is Russian
Orthodox. Fifteen million (yes, thatís 15,000,000) were martyred
in the twentieth century in the hands of the state, Catholics, Jews, et
al. They were not all exterminated! One is living her final days in Arizona,
my grandmother. They did not end Russian Orthodoxy. The beliefs and customs
are alive and perpetuating in the land of the free and the home of the
brave. Every birthday is celebrated with songs from the old world. Every
Easter is celebrated with Easter games that have been handed down for generations.
-
- A final reminder of why your statement that we will vanish,
but you will remain is absurd. Here in fly over land, we live on arguably,
the most abundant land of the planet. It is teeming with life of all kinds
- edible plants, birds, fish, and mammals. The coasts (NYC and LA) could
drop off into the sea tomorrow and we would not skip a beat in here. Another
tradition handed down over here is how to live off the land. This vast
expanse between the coasts is full of peoples of all persuasions, who work
hard, play hard, and expect the same of others. We are God-fearing, peace-loving,
and self-reliant. We raise our children to be the same. Don't confuse our
kindness for weakness.
-
- So, Dr. Al Rasheed, if our ideals are so abhorrent to
the citizens of Saudi Arabia that we are reduced to this 'us vs. them'
mentality, I will make no apologies. I am not keen on sending my son to
foreign soil to die for a foreign cause. I am not keen on sending my son
to a foreign land to kill foreigners. I am also not keen on having planes
flown into our buildings by foreigners whose origins need no reminder.
-
- Sincerely,
K.A. Bell
Flyover Land
USA
- Comment
-
- From Muhammad Irfan
5-20-2
-
- Dear Jeff,
-
- I read the article by Dr. Muhammad Al-Rasheed. His thoughts
are completely contradicting with message of the GOD in Quran. No attack
(whether suicide or not) is allowed on innocents. He is reflecting feelings
of racial superiority whereas Quran strictly condems such attitude. Please
do not take such persons as representatives of Islam. The true and pure
representation of Islam is only in Quran. It is final and protected message
of GOD to human beings to resolve their mutual differences and to live
a peaceful and happy live in this world and hereafter. It does not ask
the reader to follow it blindly rather it challenges to check its authenticity
which is a living miracle. Sooner or later all of us have to go (vanish)
and appear in hereafter for judgement on our actions in this world. May
GOD save us all from the satanic inspirations of doing injustice to each
other.
-
- Muhammad Irfan Mir
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